The new 2015 BMW X3 is about to be launched in India today. Slotted between the X1 and the X5, the refreshed car was earlier showcased at the 2014 Geneva Motor show. Changes to the new model are mostly cosmetic. However, the car will also receive minor technical upgrades.
X3 xDrive20D Expedition: 44,90,000
X3 xDrive20D xLine: 49,90,000 (Prices are ex-showroom, All-India)
The new 2015 BMW X3 is now locally produced at BMW’s Chennai plant. The front fascia of the all-season BMW gets revised styling with connected headlights and a more prominent kidney grille. The front and rear bumpers have gone under the scalpel too and feature larger air inlets, while the alloy wheels are differently designed. BMW says the ORVM’s are now aerodynamically optimised and play a part in reducing fuel consumption. The underbody construction ensures smooth flow of air and reduces resistance. Intelligent lightweight construction reduces the weight of the components by up to 25% and ensures improved body stiffness and passive safety. It also improves driving dynamics thanks to a balanced weight distribution between the front and rear axle.
The X3 will be offered with a single engine choice in the form of a 2.0 litre diesel, which will pump out a few more bhp’s in the refreshed version. Surprisingly, the x30d doesn’t feature in the list. Transmission duties will be taken care of by an 8-speed steptronic box, which will transfer power to all four wheels via the BMW X-drive four wheel drive system. Technical wizardry to please the energy conscious buyer is present in the form of an Auto start-stop function, which ensures fuel is only used when the car is actually driving and brake energy regeneration, which harnesses energy every time the brakes are applied and charges the car battery.
Changes on the inside include a piano black centre console and new leather upholstery in addition to a dual-zone automatic climate control system, a 12-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with HD radio along with AUX and USB inputs, Bluetooth connectivity, a power lift-gate, automatic windshield wipers, auto on/off headlights. New standard features include interior ambiance lighting, auto dimming exterior and interior mirrors, 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats and a storage compartment package.
We are at the launch event and this post will be updated real time with all the details about the new car, stay tuned.
2:00 PM
Exterior colours:
- Glacier Silver (Metallic)
- Deep Sea Blue (Metallic)
- Black Sapphire (Metallic)
- Space Grey (Metallic)
- Mineral Silver (Metallic)
- Sparkling Brown (Metallic)
- Melbourne Red (Metallic)
- Alpine White
Alloy Wheels:
- The Expedition variant gets 17″ Y-spoke wheels wrapped in 225/60 R17 rubber
- The xLine gets 18″ Y-spoke wheels wrapped in 245/50 R18 rubber.
BMW Connected drive features:
- Extended bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming and USB functionality
- Park Distance Control, front and rear
- Hi-fi loudspeaker system (205 W, 9 loudspeakers, 7 channels) for the xLine
- i-Drive with 16.5 cm colour screen, CD Drive and controller with direct menu control buttons
Efficiency and safety features:
- Automatic Start/ Stop
- Brake energy regeneration
- Airbags for driver and front passenger, head airbags front and rear, side airbags for driver and passenger
- active front seat headrests
- ABS with brake assist
- BMW Condition based service (intelligent maintenance system)
- Cornering brake control (CBC)
- Dynamic stability control (DSC) with Dynamic Traction control (DTC)
- Electronic vehicle immobilizer
- Electronic parking brake with auto hold
- Run flat indicator
- Child seat mounts
- Run flat tyres with reinforced side walls
- Side impact protection
- 3-point seat belts at all seats
- Warning triangle with first-aid kit
- Crash sensor and dynamic braking lights
Upholstery:
- Choice of Sensatec Beige/ Black on the Expedition variant
- xLine variant: Nevada leather in Beige/ Oyster Black/ Saddle Brown or Black. Leather Nevada Mocha/ Black with X stamping.
1:45 PM:
Interior Equipment
- 2- zone Automatic air-conditioning with active carbon microfilter
- Floor mats in velour
- Interior mirror with automatic anti dazzle function
- Sport leather steering wheel on the xLine. Expedition gets a regualar leather wrapped wheel
- Rear backrest, foldable and 60:40 dividable
- Multi-function steering wheel
- Mechanical roller sun-blinds for the rear side windows
- Electrical adjustment on the driver and passenger seat with memory fnction
- Center armrest in rear seat
- Only on the xLine: Storage compartment package, 2x12V power sockets, storage nets, rear armrest with two cup holders, odoments trays with seperation etc
1: 15 PM:
Exterior equipment on the Expedition and the xLine
- Bi-xenon headlamps with four LED illuminated rings fro side lights and daytime driving lights. Automatic bean throw control
- Rear lights with LED arrays
- LED fog lights with reflection technique
- Headlight washer system
- Rain sensor and automatic driving lights
- Lights Package (Vanity Lights, Exit lights, Handle-area lighting, Orange illumination centre console, ambient footwell, storage compartment, door opener and map pocket light (orange + white)
- Electrically foldable ORVM’s with automatic anti-dazzle function
- Aluminium satinated roof rails & Panorama glass roof on the xLine
12:55 PM:
The xLine gets a Character Package which includes
Exterior:
- Plastic in aluminium styling; kidney struts, webs / blades in air inlets, embellishments in front and rear bumper, side sill cover
- In-satinated aluminium tail-pipe embellishers and window surrounds
- High-gloss black vertical embelishers on B and C pillars
Interiors:
- Door sill finishers with ‘BMW xLine’ designation
- Vehicle key with clasp in pearl chrome
- X stamping on the head restraint and application in the backrest
- Sill in the luggage compartment in stainless steel
- Black Nevada leather with grey contrast stitching, Mocha Nevada leather with Active Red contrast stitching
12:40 PM:
Engine, Performance and Transmission
- The new 2015 BMW X3 is available in a diesel only option, the 30D variant has been omitted this time, perhaps due to lesser sales
- The 1995 cc, 4-cylinder engine in the 20D now produces 187 bhp. Produces 400 NM of torque between 1750 – 5750 rpm
- Transmission is via an 8-speed automatic with Steptronic including automatic ‘Hold’ function
- 0 – 100 in 8.1 seconds
- Top speed of 210 kmph
- Intelligent 4WD with variable torque split and hill descent control
- Cruise control with braking control
- BMW Driving Experience control with Ecopro, comfort and Sport mode on the Expedition variant, while the xLine gets a Sport+ mode
- xLine gets Dynamic Damper Control with infinite and independent damping. Also scores over the Expedition with dynamic power/braking split for individual wheels
- Both variants get xDrive status with information visible in the instrument cluster and in the control display
- 50:50 Weight Distribution
Car has been revealed;
12:00 PM:
The new look X-men are about to be revealed shortly.